St. Mary Pastoral Council's Communication to the Parish

Pastoral Council 

Paul Hammer, Pastoral Council Co-Chair
 Christine Mathes, Pastoral Council Co-Chair

About the Pastoral Council

The purpose of the Pastoral Council is a consultative body to the pastor (Fr. Straz) and follows specific guidelines as set forth by the “Many Gifts, One Spirit” directive on consultative leadership published by the Archdiocese of Seattle. The council meets monthly, providing a sounding board for the pastor as well as implementing and reporting on the status of the Partners in the Gospel initiative. Involvement in various committee meetings, as well as serving as apostolate liaisons, are some of the ways the Pastoral Council members do their work on behalf of Fr. Straz in service to St. Mary Parish and our community.

Pastoral Council members serve three-year terms with an option for serving two terms. Current members include:

• Paul Hammer, Co-Chair
• Christine Mathes, Co-Chair
• Secretary - Jenny Toland
• Shirley Vacanti
• Trish Bond
• Tom Shafer

5-Year Priority Plan

A major initiative of the St. Mary Pastoral Council over the past few years was the development and implementation of the 5-year Priority Plan for 2018-2023.  The council will be looking ahead to a new 2024-2027 priority plan for the Partners in the Gospel implementation.

View the 2018-2023 Priority Plan

Based upon the Foundational Ministries identified in the Priority Plan, the Pastoral Council established four committees of parishioner volunteers.  These committees include:

• Faith Formation Committee
• Stewardship Committee
• Welcoming Team
• Facilities Planning Committee

Pastoral Council members are assigned to each of the committees as a representative of the Pastoral Council, to report back to the council and to Fr. Straz the ongoing work of the committees.

Additionally, the Pastoral Council identified 37 distinct “Apostolate” or programs, run by St. Mary volunteers servicing our parish and community.  Since moving past COVID, much of the work by the Pastoral Council is to again serve as apostolate “liaisons” to reach out to the leaders of these 77 different programs to provide a conduit for Father Straz, who simply cannot maintain contact with so many groups by himself with the demands of administrating both St. Mary and St. Paul.  The role of the Pastoral Council, as apostolate liaisons, is to establish ongoing contact and dialogue to ensure that the apostolates work is appreciated, supported, and guided by the values and vision of the Priority Plan.

Regarding the four committees listed above, the Facilities and the Welcoming Team have been functioning since the disruption by COVID. The remaining two currently need volunteers to start up again.

Feel free to contact any of the Pastoral Council members with any questions, comments, or recommendations.  And of course, we are always looking for those willing to serve. If you feel a calling to serve, Fr. Straz or any council member would be delighted to talk with you.